How to Lose Your Mother by Molly Jong-Fast review – Erica Jong’s daughter on the worst year of her life

In this frank, exposing memoir, Jong-Fast reflects on her dysfunctional upbringing as her family falls apartIn 2023, Molly Jong-Fast had the year from hell. Her husband, Matt, discovered he had pancreatic cancer; her father-in-law, aunt and stepfather all died; and her then 81-year-old mother, the novelist and poet Erica Jong, was diagnosed with dementia. “My mother is just a body now,” she states in How to Lose Your Mother. “Erica Jong the person has left the planet.”That year also marked the 50th anniversary of Fear of Flying, Jong’s autobiographical novel. Hailed as a landmark of feminist literature, it made a star of its author, selling more than 20m copies and leading to appearances on The Tonight Show and the cover of Newsweek. The book coined the phrase “the zipless fuck” to describe casual sex. “Now think about being the offspring of the person who wrote that sentence. And pour one out for me,” writes Jong-Fast. Continue reading...

Comments

Culture

First Avengers: Doomsday teaser will be released sooner than you think

Independent

Holt McCallany on Mindhunter, David Fincher, and masculinity: ‘My mother would’ve berated me for trying to split the bill with a woman’

about 6 hours ago

Will Smith shares regret after turning down acclaimed blockbuster: ‘It hurts’

Independent

Comments

Culture

First Avengers: Doomsday teaser will be released sooner than you think

Aaron Taylor-Johnson playfully fuels speculation over new James Bond role

Race Across The World star emotionally reflects on the show after competing alongside her ex-husband

Trump, the world's No1 ignoramus, is out to destroy the rules-based world order

James Bond favourite adds fuel to fire as he ‘can’t talk about’ next film

EastEnders star Michelle Collins admits to rocky start with co-star Adam Woodyatt: ‘We didn’t always get on’

Gary Oldman ‘would’ve fancied a go at Dumbledore’ after not being cast in Harry Potter TV series

28 Years Later boldly changes 28 Weeks Later plot twist within minutes

Netflix drops all 8 episodes of dark TV series ‘compared to Ozark’

Heston Blumenthal breaks down in tears as son admits: ‘Talking to you was horrible’

Aggie MacKenzie reveals ‘awful’ backstage scuffle with Kim Woodburn that started 16-year feud

Future of Notting Hill Carnival 'in jeopardy'

12 actors who admitted they hated other actors’ movies

Wincey Willis death: ITV’s first female weather forecaster dies aged 76 after dementia diagnosis

Ray Winstone says he ‘didn’t like’ major actor who was ‘very rude’ to him

Ringo Starr hits out at ‘little man’ Roger Daltrey for firing drummer son Zak Starkey

Amy Poehler admits she ‘misappropriated’ when reflecting on controversial SNL sketches

Caledonia singer Dougie MacLean to lead 'mass singalong' event at Edinburgh Festival

'I swapped nursing for erotic fiction - but I won't let mum read my books'

Sheen comes 'full circle' with new theatre company

Judge rules Justin Baldoni allowed to seek Taylor Swift and Blake Lively’s messages

Doctor Who showrunner admits ‘we don’t know what’s happening’ as future remains uncertain

The Brad Pitt vanity project F1 is just a bad version of Top Gun: Maverick

How has BBC Scotland made cuts under its latest spending squeeze?

Everything to know on Channel 5's Murder Most Puzzling starring Phyllis Logan

He wears it well: How Rod Stewart is still getting steamy at 80

Judi Dench, Malala and Stanley Tucci join call to 'end UK complicity' in Gaza

Princess of Wales pulls out of Royal Ascot appearance

Danny Boyle and Jodie Comer talk Covid, horror and making 28 Years Later

Rob Rinder: ‘My friends send their kids to a Jewish school behind barbed wire’

28 Years Later plot and ending explained — and will there be another film?

Robbie Williams sends wholesome message to Liam Gallagher after Oasis frontman’s Soccer Aid praise

Netflix’s The Waterfront is pure American soap with occasional flashes of grizzly violence

Holt McCallany on Mindhunter, David Fincher, and masculinity: ‘My mother would’ve berated me for trying to split the bill with a woman’

Will Smith shares regret after turning down acclaimed blockbuster: ‘It hurts’

Danny Boyle: 28 Years Later Covid pandemic parallels were inevitable

Jason Momoa’s son to make acting debut alongside dad in Dune 3

The BBC’s coolest asset Adam Curtis on money, Taylor Swift and his eerie BBC series Shifty

28 Years Later feels like being repeatedly bonked on the head by the metaphor hammer

Bruce Springsteen biopic trailer leaves fans divided over Jeremy Allen White casting

In ‘Lash,’ Rebecca Saunders’s First Opera, Sex Flirts With Death

Families of trans kids worry about what's next after Supreme Court rules on gender-affirming care

Vance joins liberal social media site to unwelcome reception

Absolutely No King

Movie Review: In '28 Years Later,' a zombie pandemic rages on

Deadly listeria outbreak linked to chicken alfredo fettucine sold at Kroger and Walmart

Jenny Saville at the National Portrait Gallery: 'mythic art of the flesh'

Air India faces disruptions as crash prompts deeper checks and flight delays

Nezza's Spanish anthem at Dodger Stadium ignites debate over team's immigrant support

Tyler Perry sued by actor on 'The Oval' for sexual assault and harassment

FDA approves the world's only twice-a-year shot to prevent HIV

XX-XY Athletics CEO Jennifer Sey refuses to bow to Colorado's anti-misgendering law

Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders say they're getting a 400% increase in pay

Amazon hopes to deliver 10,000 robotaxis annually with new factory, challenging Waymo

What to know about the COVID variant that may cause 'razor blade' sore throats

The baffling case of Karen Read

Race Across the World star sobs while revealing huge life change since filming

Wincey Willis, ITV’s first female weather presenter, dies aged 76

What 1,200 miles on a paddleboard taught a writer about 'blue space'

Jodie Comer says being led by Danny Boyle in 28 Years Later was a ‘proper dream’